Falmouth Harbour Waterfront Self Catering Holiday Apartments Cornwall
 
Falmouth
 

Falmouth

Falmouth is Cornwall's leading South Coast Resort and home to the county's maritime heritage. Here you will find sandy golden beaches, spectacular scenery, specialist shops from local art to antiques and exceptional sailing in Carrick Roads and the Fal Estuary.

Falmouth's natural harbour is the third deepest in the world. It provides a picturesque background to the busy main street that runs under various names from Greenbank to Grove Place. Unsurpassed views of Flushing, Falmouth Bay and beyond, can be glimpsed between the buildings, or from the opes and walkways meandering through the town. In the main street you will find a charming mix of shops from individual specialist outlets to well known high street names. Falmouth's abundance of cafes, restaurants and hotels offer a selection of world-wide cuisine and traditional Cornish food. You can indulge in the delights of a Cornish cream tea, taste locally caught seafood, traditionally made ice cream, locally farmed organic produce and don't forget the famous Cornish Pasty. Sight seeing in the Falmouth area could not be easier - climb aboard one of the many pleasure boats and passenger ferries which ply the local waters to St Mawes, Flushing, Smugglers Cottage at Tolverne, Truro and the Helford Passage. For those who like terra firma, an open top bus travels continuously in season linking the town beaches and castle.

Estuary The Fal Estuary is host to a superb natural maritime environment providing plenty of delightful waterways and secluded coves. There are sailing and diving schools, skippered cruises and yacht charter, local fishing trips and watersports centres offering expert advice, tuition and equipment for hire. For further details please contact Falmouth's Tourist Information Centre who have details on a wide range of watersports and Activities, including information for harbour authorities, moorings, marinas, launching facilities and slipways. A network of passenger ferries will help you explore the Estuary and Creeks.

National Maritime Museum Experience the new Team Philips and Surf's Up exhibition at this multi-award winning attraction. With one of only three natural underwater viewing locations in the world, breathtaking views from the 29m tower, hands-on interactives, audio visual immersive experiences, talks, special exhibitions and the opportunity to get out onto the water and discover the marine life around our coastline, this new generation of Museum has something for everyone. Open daily 10am - 5pm, 7 days a week. Closed Christmas and Boxing Day.
National Maritme Museum Cornwall

Beaches

Gyllyngvase Beach (pictured) Falmouth's main beach, it extends alongside Cliff Road, providing a crescent shaped white sandy stretch, ideal for family bathing and water sports. Gyllyngvase is a Blue Flag beach. Sand chair available for hire from the Beach Café for disabled beach access.

Swanpool Beach Take a short walk along the cliff path from Gyllyngvase, to discover Swanpool Beach offering a large variety of water-based activities and a children's play area. Opposite is Swanpool Nature Reserve for those who want to discover tranquility and the local wildlife. Leaflets are available in the cafe on the beach or from the Tourist Information Centre.

Castle Beach A narrow beach on Falmouth's seafront. Here you will find sparkling rock pools - the stuff of childhood memories.

Tunnel Beach A narrow stretch of sand, adjacent to Cliff Road. The beach is sheltered by a high sea wall and close to Castle Beach.

Maenporth Beach A wide sandy beach, two miles south west of Falmouth, in a peaceful setting with views of Falmouth, Pendennis Castle and St Anthony Lighthouse on the Roseland Peninsula.

Kiln Quay, Flushing Rural beach with views across Falmouth Harbour, access to Trefusis Point.

Falmouth Cafés Bars Shops Banks Chuches

Gardens of Falmouth and Cornwall
 
Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth
 

History

Since Tudor times, the Fal Estuary has played a key role in the defence of the nation. Henry VIII's twin castles of Pendennis and St. Mawes, both of which can be visited all year, guard the entrance to one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Pendennis Castle offers a journey through 450 years of history from a Tudor garrison to a Second World War base. What's more it is superbly sited on Pendennis Headland, offering outstanding panoramic views.

Pendennis Castle, 'Cornwall's Greatest Fortress', was built by King Henry VIII and has defended the entrance to the River Fal since its construction between 1540 and 1545. Sitting high on Pendennis Point opposite its sister castle, St Mawes, Pendennis was part of Henry's coastal defences against the threat of an attack from the French and Spanish, following his divorce from Catherine of Aragon. Henry's daughter, Elizabeth I, later added an extra defensive wall around the original fortress.

In 1660, during the reign of Charles II, a royal proclamation declared the town should be known as Falmouth. Falmouth then flourished for 200 years as the second busiest port of the British Empire. In 1688 the post office packet service to foreign ports and colonies was established and initially carried mail to Spain and the Mediterranean. By 1705 small twin-masted boats were delivering mail to the West Indies and eventually they were visiting the North American Colonies and South America. The fleet reached a total of forty ships by 1817, carrying passengers as well as mail, supplies and payment for British Troops fighting overseas.

The Packet Ship service declined yet Falmouth continued to flourish with the introduction of the electric telegraph, making the port one of the few places that ships could call in to get their orders for the delivery of their cargoes. The foundation of Falmouth Docks in 1860 produced a focus for maritime related industries. The railway finally reaching Falmouth by 1863 helped to promote the growing tourist trade, resulting in the first purpose built tourist hotel on the sea front in 1865 and the development of the family bathing beaches of Swanpool, Gyllyngvase and Maenporth.

Falmouth Tourist Information Office has more details of historic buildings and places of interest in Falmouth.

 
Harbour's Reach, King Charles Quay, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 3HQ    Tel: 07710 252583    info@falmouth-waterfront-holidays.co.uk